Historic Tsunami

1968 Japan Tsunami

1 April 1968 · Seikaido · Japan

On 1 April 1968 at 00:42 UTC, a tsunami formed near Seikaido, Japan. It was caused by a magnitude 7.5 earthquake. Waves reached up to 3.1 m high. It was observed at 62 locations in 2 countries or territories, up to 7,945 km from its source. It killed at least 1 person and injured 22.

Date

1 April 1968

Time

00:42 UTC

Cause

Earthquake

Earthquake Magnitude

7.5

Highest Wave

3.1 m

Observation Sites

62

Furthest Reach

7,945 km

Deaths

1

Injuries

22

Homes Destroyed

4

Source Country

Japan

Triggering Earthquake

1968 Hyūga-nada Earthquake

Countries and Territories Reached

Number of observations, highest wave and deaths in each country.

• 60Japan · 3.1 m
• 2United States of America · 0.1 m

Highest Waves

• 3.1 mUrajiri · Japan · 56 km
• 3.1 mKomame · Japan · 57 km
• 3.0 mUrashiri, Shikoku Island · Japan · 84 km
• 1.7 mFukaura · Japan · 73 km
• 1.7 mIwamizu · Japan · 73 km
• 1.3 mTakenoura · Japan · 84 km
• 1.2 mHososhima (Hyuga City) · Japan · 81 km
• 1.2 mTosa-Shimizu · Japan · 68 km
• 1.1 mSukumo · Japan · 74 km
• 1.0 mTotoroko · Japan · 80 km

Other Major Tsunamis in the Region

• 1995Kobe, Japan · 0.3 m6,434 deaths
• 1946Honshu: S Coast, Japan · 6.6 m1,362 deaths
• 1944Off Southeast Coast Kii Peninsula, Japan · 10.0 m1,223 deaths
• 1927Sw. Honshu Island, Japan · 11.3 m3,022 deaths
• 1914Seikaido, Japan · 3.0 m63 deaths
• 1909Anegawa, Japan · 1.8 m41 deaths

Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Tsunami Database (doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7) · Natural Earth